breaking glass by KLeena Girl (books to read in your 30s .txt) 📕

buildings like this – was the living room. Its seat furniture was made of white leather, a chandelier dangled from the high ceiling and the balcony led out into the colourful garden. Serena couldn’t quite put a finger on it, but she felt comfortable in this huge room. Maybe it was its size which gave her feeling of space and freedom.
Lucas carried Serena’s bag into one of the guestrooms and met up with David and the girl in that particular living room. „I’ve gotta go now”, he said. „My parents await me. Do you think you two will be alright?”
„Guess so”, Serena nodded and David agreed. „See you tomorrow.”
Serena waved absently and Lucas left. Here she was, standing in a room, she had grown to like very quickly, with a boy two years older than her, and who she didn’t know at all. An awkward silence filled the great space around them. She eyed the unknown boy. He was taller than Lucas and had a similar hair colour, chocolate brown. Just as Lucas he was slim, but his face differed much from his friend’s one. The outlines of his jaw were sharp and prominent, just as his nose. The face itself set a perfect fitting picture, expect for the eyes, which broke the image of beauty, but not in a negative way. David’s eyes were bright blue, bordering whitish-grey. It was impossible to tear away from his gaze, once those eyes had caught you. That’s why Serena didn’t notice, she had been staring at David for a while now, until he said so.
David cleared his throat. „Okay. Would you like to eat something?”
Serena blushed and finally looked away from his figure. „Yeah.”
She followed him into the kitchen, an equal great room as the rest of those in the house. David gestured her to sit down, while he looked through the cupboards to find something edible. She did so and watched him. Again, no one of them said a word. How were they going to live together, if they couldn’t even talk to each other?
„So”, the bright-eyed boy said as casually as possible, „do you feel better now? I mean, how are you? Are you fine?” He didn’t turn to look at her, opening the fridge, which was almost empty. Only some tomatoes and dry bread was left.
Serena frowned at the word ‘fine’. What was he trying to suggest here? That she was some lunatic, not being able to live on her own?
„I’m okay.” She answered and stood up. David flinched as he felt her approaching him. „You don’t have to be scared, though. I’m not crazy.”
Noticing the hint of anger in her voice, David quickly back pedalled. „I never said you were. Just let me make you something to eat.”
His cowardice made Serena even madder. „I can help you, if you let me. I don’t want pittance. If I am to stay here, I want to help running this household, too. That’s the least I can do.”
David stepped to the side. „Alright”, he sighed, „but I’m afraid there isn’t much to eat in here. I usually eat out. And I can’t cook.”
„So, you’re willing to give me a chance?” Serena now smiled, „Then let me cook something. Don’t you have noodles or something?”
He shrugged. „There’s still some rice. If that’s any use to you.”
„It is.” She announced. “Just wait and see, I’m going to make some nice dinner for us. And you stop thinking of me as a madwoman.”
„Deal, but this better be good.” David grinned and pulled out some plates and cutlery. Actually, it was silverware.
Serena nudged him lightly. „You should feel honoured to get some home-cooked meal. So don’t complain!” The two of them kept bickering and laughing the whole evening.


* * *


He had to say it had its advantages to have someone else in the house, especially a girl. While he brought in the money (he was sent to by his father) and cleaned the house with her, she did the grocery shopping, making sure the fridge stayed full. This not only benefited him, but her as well. They had grown friends over the time, though they hadn’t talked much about Serena’s suicide attempts or her previous depressive behaviour. For all it seemed, she was out of that phase by now.
Lucas visited his friends every day. He had told Jenny a slightly changed story about why Serena had moved in with David, so she wouldn’t ask any uncomfortable questions. The warm late-summer nights the three of them spent onto the villa’s balcony. Together they enjoyed the nice warm air or listened to the crickets’ music. Sometimes even Jenny came over to spend some time with her friend.
The moon shone brightly and no clouds stopped you to get an excellent view of the starry sky. A chilling cool fell down onto the garden and Serena pulled her knees towards her chest to keep in her body heat. With a lost look she gazed up into the endless sky.
„Lucas, David”, she said absently. „What is it?” David asked.
„Do you believe in God?” She meant that question dead-serious.
Lucas chuckled. „What kind of question is that? You’re kidding, right? I mean, you don’t really want to…”
„Yes, I want to.” Her confident reply came, chasing away all her dreaminess. „I want to know. So please tell me.”
The boys exchanged some curious glances. Then David spoke up. „My parents are Christians. My father doesn’t bother much about religion, he just thinks anyone should have one. My mum, though, she really loves going to church. Besides, she’s working in a parish, too.” After a moment he added, „She’s a teacher.” As if that would explain her devoutness. „But I do not really know if I believe or not. I haven’t thought much about it.”
„Well, my family is Jewish”, Lucas began, „and yes, I actually believe in God. We’re quite liberal about religion, which is good. I don’t think you can ever force a certain belief upon someone. Everyone has to deal with that issue on his own.” He smiled faintly at Serena, but it vanished, when he saw the sad look in her big, green eyes. „So what about you Serena?”
She sighed. „Even if I wanted to believe, I couldn’t.”
They looked at her questioningly. „I think you couldn’t, too, if you had seen what I have seen.”
Serena’s face was full of sadness now, her eyes reflecting an immense amount of pain. But Lucas decided to push her further, he wanted, no needed to know what she had been through. It was the only key to understand this strange girl. „What did you see?”
„My best friend died, when I was ten. I was standing beside her hospital bed, when she stopped breathing. I found my mother once, when she had cut her wrists, deep enough to die. I’ve already read a suicide note of my father, which he luckily never committed. But those things aren’t the worst. It’s the time in between. The silence and then the screaming and fury, the unknowingness and this feeling of being completely helpless.” A lonely tear slid down the 13-year-old’s cheek. „I’m sorry”, she suddenly said. „I didn’t want to bring the topic up on you.” Quickly, she tore her gaze away up into the sky.
Lucas stood up and hugged her cautiously. „Hey there, you don’t have to be ashamed. We help you now. You don’t ever have to feel this loneliness again. We’ll make sure of it. Right, Newton?”
„Absolutely.” David nothing but grinned.
„You see, there’s nothing to worry about anymore.”
Serena turned her head and asked shyly, „Promise?”
The boy, hovering above her, nodded. „Promise. But let’s get you into bed now. You’re cold. And we all have school tomorrow.”


* * *


Spending time with the boys made Serena happy. Since she had stopped living with her parents, her marks had improved and she laughed so much more. The only thing bugging her about having left her home was her brother. Steven was only eight and very close to her. And there she was, not having visited him for almost two months. It was autumn by now and the times the three friends spent on the balcony every evening decreased. Lucas’ birthday was coming up and David and Serena stood in the kitchen thinking about how they could make his 16th birthday a phenomenal day. They were planning a party in the Newman’s house and Serena wrote down a number of people they’d have to invite.
„What about his cousin, what’s his name again? – André.” David said, as he opened the fridge to take out some lemonade. „He lives in Hamburg, I think. Shall we invite him as well?”
Serena startled, „Sorry, what did you say, Dave?”
Offering her a glass, he sat down beside her at the counter. „What’s the matter, Serena? You’ve been so jumpy lately.”
She took the lemonade and drank some. „I miss my brother. I feel like I’m letting him down.”
„You don’t. It’s as hard for you as it is for him, I’d say.” He laid his arm around her shoulders in a consoling way.
„You’re probably right. But still…” Serena trailed off and averted her gaze from David’s piercing blue eyes.
The boy took her chin and held it up, so she could look him in the eyes. „You know what? Why don’t we visit your brother then? I’m sure we could arrange that.”
Serena’s eyes lit up immediately. „Really? But we haven’t even finished Lucas’ birthday preparations.”
„We can do that later. Come on, now we need to find a way how to get to your aunt’s.”


* * *


Visiting Steven wouldn’t be as easy as David had thought it would be. Said little boy lived now with Serena’s aunt, whose house was almost 50 kilometres away from their own hometown. So what they needed was something motorized to get there. With David, Lucas and Serena being all underage, no one of them had a driver’s licence. And go the way by bus would take too much time. David was clueless. He wanted his new roommate to have the chance to reunite with her brother again. Though, it would fail at implementation in the end.
Fortunately, Lucas had an idea. „Don’t worry”, he said, „I think I know someone who could help us out a little.” He grabbed the phone and only ten minutes the door bell rang. Lucas opened it. „Guys, this is – “
„Sebastian!” Serena exclaimed happily, as she hugged the tall man, „Long time no see.”
Lucas was confused. „You know him?”
„He used to my mentor at the confirmation lessons in church. Right, Bastian?”
„Sebastian – a mentor?” Lucas repeated unbelievingly.
„Serena – going to church?” David added.
„Come on, kids”, Sebastian picked up their piece of conversation, „I’m here to bring you to Serena’s aunt. Let’s go.”
Sebastian was a 21-year-old man. He was tall, had brought shoulders and blond, short hair. Also, he was wearing glasses and full of humour. Serena had been right, in his teen time he had worked as a mentor for parishioners to earn some money for his scholastics. He studied Business Administration in Bremen, but right now he was on vacation.


* * *

They were already on their tour back. The afternoon had been wonderful. Serena had finally seen her little brother again and it had been hard for her not to burst out in tears right there. Steven had told her how much he missed her and his family. It made Serena sad to hear that, but she was also glad to have been able to speak with Steven again. She had promised him to call more often